A blog devoted to Reno's economic recovery

How helping others helps Reno

David Karr, 21, works with a child in the Sierra Association of Foster Families. (Tim Dunn/RGJ photo)

Joseph Galata remembers

taking care of a 14-year-old boy when he worked in a hospice home; the boy was dying from a rare skin disease with a short life expectancy called epidermolysis bullosa.

But he saw himself as an artist, not a dying child.

“Instead of just sitting there in his bed waiting to die, he would do artwork,” Galata said.

“I’ll never forget the Friday night we sat at his table and we knew the end was coming. He just had such a sense of humor and such joy — it was all about hope, not misery.”

The last three children Galata took care of in hospice were also in foster care. This emotional situation inspired him to establish the Sierra Association of Foster Families in Reno.

“We contribute to these kids’ lives by preventing homelessness, school dropouts, crime and drug abuse because we teach them the hope and intelligence in academics and the joys of school and being healthy,” Galata said.

It’s just one of the charities that improves the quality of life in Northern Nevada by meeting needs many of us don’t even realize would go unfulfilled.

Chris Askin, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Nevada Charities, said, “The whole purpose for a charity is to make a difference for the community, whether it’s for people or animals.”

Below is a look at a few that make this a better place to live.

The Ridge House

Job applications usually include a box that asks about criminal history. It can be a stressful question depending on one’s past, and an honest answer can get the application tossed in the trash.

To ease that stress, The Ridge House prepares individuals who would check the box.

Its executive director, Steve Burt, said 5,800 Nevada inmates are expected to be released in 2013. But if they don’t receive help with managing life in general on the outside, there’s a 67 percent chance they will land back inside.

“By catching them when they first come out and providing them with counseling, we can keep them from reoffending in our communities,” he said. “It saves Reno taxpayers millions of dollars a year in law enforcement, court and incarceration costs.”

The Ridge House stands out from other re-entry organizations in Reno, Burt said, because it guides the inmates to self-improvement, such as guidance in recovering from substance abuse and help finding jobs.

Workforce development coordinator John Collins said the easiest way for the community to get involved is to walk into The Ridge House and ask to volunteer.

“There’s nothing like having one of our individuals graduate from The Ridge House to become a part of society so they can become active in it again,” Collins said. “It’s just good to be able to give back to those individuals that deserve a second chance.”

Big Brothers, Sisters

Another charity seeking help — this one with a real chance for volunteers to have a one-on-one personal experience — is the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northern Nevada.

Volunteers can build friendships with kids and teens in poverty by helping them succeed in school and exploring career options. CEO Ann Silver said it’s been shown that mentoring boosts a child’s motivation and positive connections with the community.

There are about 30,000 children living in poverty in Washoe County, she said, and the group is always looking for mentors willing to motivate a child to dream big.

“One hour each week is all it takes to give each child a chance to be a contributing member of our community rather than a future expense,” she said.

Catholic Charities

The Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada may be well-known but some of the people who need it most — or who could help it most — don’t realize it’s there, the extent of its services or that all beliefs are welcome.

Development director Auburn Harrison said people who volunteer or work at charities don’t do it for the money or the glory.

“For people volunteering and not getting paid, it improves their life and gives them a purpose,” said Harrison, who started as a volunteer herself.

Reno native Laura Maloy, 57, frequently volunteers at Catholic Charities. She wants to help those in need so they don’t become a community burden.

“I think Reno is just a great little gift, and I want to keep it that way,” Maloy said.

After-school program

The Sierra Association of Foster Families serves about 600 to 800 foster children in Reno with an in-home after-school tutoring program. The group also offers programs for foster and birth parents and for children with behavior issues, who learn control strategies by taking care of horses.

The after-school program is a top priority — Galata was stunned to discover foster children tend to be two or four grade levels behind other kids their age. He said 52 percent of foster children graduate high school yet only about three percent attend college.

In the after-school program, 25 volunteers work as tutors, many of whom are University of Nevada, Reno students. Although they aren’t being paid for tutoring, students are often inspired to continue volunteering after their classes are over.

Student volunteer David Karr said, “It’s gratifying seeing these kids grow up. I postponed some of my future plans to see these kids grow.”

Galata wants to raise enough money from grants and fundraisers to pay the tutors someday. But the weak economy has made it harder to get grants, and fundraisers can be limited.

“People are really generous around Christmastime and that’s really wonderful,” Galata said. “But we need that generosity throughout the year.”

In the meantime, it’s all about finding hope and focusing on triumphs and joys: 17 teens in the foster program just graduated high school.

“The successes are so incredible,” Galata said. “This is what I come to work for everyday.”

How you can get involved

Create a free account at nevadavolunteers.org.

After registering, return to the home page and enter Reno, NV in Search Local Volunteer Opportunities.

Type in keywords under Find a Volunteer Opportunity or navigate the charity group boxes provided.

Select who you want to volunteer for, and click I want to help!

Contact information

Here are websites for some of the people, groups and sites mentioned in this week’s story: